Circuit closer



June s'. 1928.

1,672,107 G. H WILLEY CIRCUIT CLOSER Original Filed Nov. 15, 1923 2Sheets-Sheet l Ivuen i022 fiizleygammsrmrmx.

\ I x62122396 wzzg fiieoeasel i Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. WILLEY, DECEASED, LATE OR SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, BY JANETWILLEY, ADMINISTRATRIX, SOIMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TOWILLEY-NOYES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SOMERVILLE, 'MASSAGHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

cmourr CLOSER.

Original application filed November 15, 1923, SerialNo. 676,965. Dividedand this application filed June 80,

' 1926. Serial No. 119,619.

This invention relates to circuit closers more especially designed toclose the circuits of motor vehicles or horns, the circuit closingelements being positioned at the upper end of'the vehicle steeringcolumn and having an actuating element accessible from the rim of thesteering wheel, this application covering subject matter divided outfrom application Serial Number 676,965,.iiled November 15, 1928, forcircuit closer. J

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings in which I,

Figure 1 is a top plan of the device as mounted on the steering columnof a Franklincar. l

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of thesteering post, the steering wheel being shown partly in section.

v Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing the device attached theretothis form being applicable to cars of various makes.

Figure 4 is a view partly in section of the form of the inventionparticularly adapted to Franklin cars. j p

Figure 5 is a section somewhat similar to Figure 3, but showing somewhatmodified construction.

Referring first to Figures '1, 2 and 4, at 1 is indicated the usualsteering column'of a vehicle adjacent the upper end of which is mountedthe steering wheel 2 having the rim 3 which may be grasped by the driverof the vehicle. In Franklin cars the throttle lever is mounted to pivotat the upper end of the steering column, this'lever being shown in thesedrawings by the numeral 4. Through the pivotal axis of this leverextends a conductor 5 '(see Figure fl) forming one portion of the signalactuating circuit. The signal is actuated by electrically connecting orgrounding this conductor to the steering column. I

The device of the present invention comprises a cap 6 designedto fitover the upper end of the steering column, for the Franklin car thisbeing designed to house the inner end of the throttle lever 4 which isformed as a cylindrical boss 7. This cap 6 is slotted, as at 8, so thatthe lever 4 may extend therethrough, the side walls of the slot engagingopposite sides of the lever. By this construction rotation of the cap *6relative to the steering column acts to turn the throttle lever i andconsequently'to controlthe supply of fuel to the engine Through the capGcent-rally thereof extends a post 9 insulated by a sleeve 10 in the cap6 and preferably of polygonal cross section in order that rotationimparted "thereto may effect rotation of the cap 6. As shown moreparticularly in Figure 3 in which, however,

' a different form of cap is employed, the post 9 is of enlarged crosssection above the cap and rests on a disk of'insulating material 11seatedon the upper face thereof. The lower end 12 of the post isthreaded and adapted to receive a connector 13 to which the wire 5 isattached. The postis clamped to the cap by means of a nut Ilalsothreaded on'the' portion 12,a Washer 15 of in'sulat ing inaterialbeinginterposed between the lower face of the cap and a washer 16 againstwhich thenut let bears. Extending upwardly from the upper face of thecap 6 is an annular flange 20 which is preferably lined with a ring 21of insulating material. The upper end of the post 9 is formed with ahead 25 and-slidable beneath this head axially of the post, butpreferably non-rotatable relative thereto, is an inverted cupshapedelement 26 having an annular flange 27 surrounding and normally spacedfrom the flange 21. This member 26 is of conducting material and may bebrought into engagement with either the top face of the cap outwardly ofthe flange 21, or against the outer face of this flange, by depressingthe element 26 or by rocking it relatively to the post'9. This element26 is normally held out of contact with the cap and the flange by meansof a snin 28 surroundin the 0st '9 and bearing between the insulatingdisk 11 and the lower face of the element 26 within the flange-21. Thiselement 26, therefore,

'rimi3 of the steering wheel so that the operator may readily reach itwith his thumb or fingers and press it or tilt it, as

he may desire, to close the signal circuit.

As in the form of this device shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the cap 6 isin operative engagement with the throttle lever 4, axial rotation of thering 30 also acts to move this lever andso control the speed of thevehicle. J

In othermakes of cars where the control levers for. the spark andthrottle are carried by a quadrant mounted at the'upper end of thesteering column, the particular form of cap shown in Figure 3 may beemployed. In this form of cap the marginal flange 35 surrounds the upperend'of the tubular member or hub 36of the spark lever at the upper endofthe steering column and may be made fast thereto by means of set screws37. In this formthe turning of. the cap acts to advance or retard thespark depending on the direction in which it is rotated. The wiringconnections between the steering column and the central conductor to thesignal have been indicated diagrammatically in this figure, butas theseare well known no extended description thereof is'deemed the device ofthis invention is built into a post especially designed to receive itin.- stead of being formed as an attachment, though it should beunderstood that where thisis done it will not ordinarily be necessary ordesirable to use a vertically adjustable cap. As shown in this figure,however, thecap is fixed to the upper end of a stationary sleeve 55extending centrally of the steering post and through which theconducting wires are passed, the sleeves through which the spark,throttle, and steering gear are controlled being arranged externallythereof as shown. a

The combination wherein the signal actuating element may also beactuated to eflect a control of the vehicle such as the throttle of theengine is claimed in the parent ap-- plication for patent hereinbeforereferred to.

Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention it should beevident to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit orscope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a cap at the upper end ofa vehicle steering column and having an anular flange ing said elementagainst said head and out of electrical contact with said cap, saidelement being movable against the action of said spring to makeelectrical connection between said post and cap.

, 2. A device of the class described comprising a cap at the upper endof a vehicle steering column and having an annular flange projectingfrom its upper face, a central post insulated from said cap projectingcentrally of said flange, an inverted cup-shaped element having acentral opening slidable over said post and enclosing said flange, ahead on said post above said element, a spring within said flange andbearing at opposite ends between said-cap and element and urging saidelement against said head and out of electrical contact withsaid cap,said element being movable against the action of said spring to makeelectrical connection between said post and cap, arms projectingoutwardly from said element, and an annular actuating member carried atthe outer ends ofsaid arms in proximity to the rim of the vehiclesteering wheel. A

r 3. A device of the class described comprising a cap at the upper endof a vehicle steering column and having an annular flange projectingfrom its upper face, an insulating lining for said flange and the upperface of said cap enclosed thereby, a central post insulated from'saidcap projecting centrally of said flange, an inverted cup-shaped elementhaving a central opening slidable over said post and enclosing saidflange, a head on said post above said element, and a spring within saidflange and bearing at opposite ends between said lining and element andurging said element against said head and out of electrical contact withsaid cap, said element being movable against the action of said springto make electrical connection between said post and cap.

4. A device of the class described comprising a cap at the upper end ofa vehicle steering column and having an" annular flange projecting fromits upper face, an insulating lining for said flange and the upper faceof said cap enclosed thereby,'a central post insulated from said capprojecting centrally of said flange, an inverted cup-shaped elementhaving a central opening slidable over said post and enclosing saidflange, a head on said post above said element, a spring within saidflange and hearing at opposite ends between said lining and element andurging said element against said'head and out of electrical contact withsaid cap, said element being movable against the action of said springto make electrical connection between said post and cap, arms'projectingoutwardly from said element, andan annular actuating member carried atthe outer ends of said arms in proximity to the rim of the vehiclesteering wheel.

5. A device of the class described comprising a cap at the upper end ofa vehicle steering column, an annular flange extending upwardly fromsaid cap, a post insulated from said cap and extending axially of saidflange,

and a circuit-closing element slidable on said post and constructed tocontact with either the outer face of said flange or the upper face ofsaid cap.

6. A device of the class described comprising a cap at the upper end ofa vehicle steering column, an annular flange extending upwardly fromsaid cap, a post insulated from said cap and extending axially of saidflange, a circuit-closing element slidable on said post and constructedto contact with either the outer face of said flange or the upper faceof said cap, and means for normally holding said element out of contactwith said flange and cap.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. 1

Mus. JANET WILLEY, Administmtm'm Estate of George H. Willey.

